Mancini tries to mask City's struggles

In a series of fiery exchanges with the media, Roberto Mancini had struggled to explain in words that the pressure wasn't getting to him amid Manchester City's patchy form.

So on Friday, the manager resorted to humour.

The Italian turned up at his media briefing ahead of Saturday's match against Aston Villa wearing a mask of assistant manager David Platt.

"Do you prefer David or me?" Mancini joked.

Mancini sent Platt in his place for the past two media gatherings to fend off questions about City's ill-fated Champions League campaign and stuttering Premier League title defence.

Defending the strength of his squad, Mancini said: "We have a good team and we don't need to buy another player in January."

But the questions aren't going away, especially with City needing to beat Real Madrid on Wednesday to keep alive faint Champions League hopes.

City's prospects domestically aren't so bleak as the only unbeaten team in the Premier League, just two points behind leaders Manchester United.

While Mancini dismisses talks of a crisis, striker Sergio Aguero accepted there is room for improvement.

"It's true that we don't have the same flair in the games as we had last season and we've scored less goals for sure," Aguero said.

"We have been hindered by a string of bad injuries to important players . it's not simple when they all happen simultaneously and I think I'm correct in saying we had very few injuries last season."

United might be on top but it took a comeback at Aston Villa to make it five wins out of five, the 11th time United had fallen behind in a game in all competitions this season.

"The dressing room is different when you get these late goals, or you come from behind," United manager Alex Ferguson said ahead of Saturday's match at Norwich.

"It makes an impact because there is more excitement. We have experienced it many times and it is credit to the character of the club that we can do it."

Chelsea are only three points behind United and could see defence strengthened at West Bromwich Albion by the return of Ashley Cole after hamstring troubles, although captain John Terry is out for about three weeks.

Arsenal will be hoping a victory against Tottenham on Saturday can kick-start a push for the top four, although winger Theo Walcott, midfielder Mikel Arteta and striker Olivier Giroud are injury doubts for the north London derby.

"If the results are not at the moment completely what we want then I agree, but we are not in a desperate situation," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "It is down to us, the season will be what we make of it now, it is as simple as that."

The Gunners are languishing in eighth place, four points behind fourth-placed Everton who play at winless Reading on Saturday when Liverpool host Wigan, Newcastle take on Swansea and last-placed Queens Park Rangers face Southampton.

In Sunday's only match, Fulham host Sunderland while West Ham play Stoke on Monday.

This material is subject to copyright and any unauthorised use, copying or mirroring is prohibited.